Pocapharaptinus lachnos Akotsen and Philips

Akotsen-Mensah, Clement & Philips, Keith, 2009, Description of a new genus of spider beetle (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 2160, pp. 51-67 : 61

Pocapharaptinus lachnos Akotsen and Philips , new species

Figs. 19, 20 , 30 & 38

Type material. Holotype: S. Africa S. W. Cape Nuweberg, Sneeukop, 34.03 S- 18.59 E / 16.11.1973; E-Y: 265, groundtraps: 130 days, leg. Endrödy-Younga. Paratype: same data as holotype (2). Same data except 12.X 1.1973; E-Y: 231, Oreotragu s dung, leg. Endrödy-Younga (2).

Diagnosis. This species can be characterized by the broadly rounded posterior margin of visible cuticle anterior to the pronotal setal tufts (Fig. 30).

Description. Color reddish brown; body oval, slightly elongate, convex. Length 2.2–2.5 mm. Head dorsally mainly smooth but with scattered setose small tubercles broadly scattered between eyes, tubercles distinct, setae short, recumbent and erect, setal tufts on either side of midline between eyes typically absent; carina posterior to antennal fossae present but small. Pronotum with visible surface not extending posteriorly between setal tufts, smoothly rounded posteriorly; base of setal tufts arising from slightly above anterior cuticle surface on curved carinae, carinae angled ~20º from surface, anterior margin slightly swollen; lateral spines distinct and not blending into tufts, slightly thicker than erect elytral setae. Elytra markedly convex, nearly rounded, apices slightly projecting; erect setae golden yellow, length moderate anteriorly but longer posteriorly; six small round patches of recumbent white setae located anteriorly within puncture rows 6–8 and posteriorly within rows 3–4 and 7– 8. Male genitalia with parameres thinnest near apical 1/3, strongly curved inwards near apex, apices distinctly expanded; median lobe with sides parallel sided except near apex total length 83% of that of parameres measured from base (Fig. 38).

Variation. Occasionally the posterior patch of recumbent white elytral setae within puncture rows 7 and 8 absent.

Etymology. Specific epithet derived from the Greek “lachno”, meaning woolly, refering to the flocculent pronotal setae.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 20. Dorsal and ventral habitus views; 17 – 18. P. soutpanensis; 19 – 20. P. lachnos. Scale bar for Figs. 17, 20 = 0.5 mm and Figs. 18 – 19 = 1.0 mm